Rawdon Bros. Aircraft T1 accident near Pembroke Pines, Florida, November 2, 2004
On November 2, 2004 at about 5:16 pm local time, a Rawdon Bros. Aircraft T1, registered N2706D, was destroyed in an accident near Pembroke Pines, Florida (North Perry Airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Improper maintenance by company maintenance personnel, and the pilot-in-command's operating the airplane with known deficiencies, which resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel system contamination, and a loss of control while maneuvering to return to the airport.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 2004 · about 5:16 pm local time
- Place
- Pembroke Pines, Florida · North Perry Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rawdon Bros. Aircraft T1
- Registration
- N2706D · no longer on the register · serial T1-26
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses stated that they saw the accident airplane initiate a normal takeoff from runway 09, and while at a low altitude during initial climb, they saw it make what appeared to be a left turn from going west, toward the north, and it suddenly descended nose down in a steep left turn and impacted the runway. The controller at the North Perry Airport control tower stated that after the airplane took off from runway 09R, and while it was climbing out at an altitude of about 100 feet he received a radio communications call from he pilot stating that he had an engine problem. The controller replied stating, "anything you want," and this was the last radio communication he had with the accident airplane. The controller stated that he observed the airplane in a left descending turn, and the airplane impacted the ground. A mechanic employed with the operator stated that the pilot had made an earlier flight, and when he landed, he exited the airplane, entered the hangar, and spoke with the maintenance manager about an engine problem he had experienced. The mechanic said that the accident airplane had a history of engine problems, and when the pilot returned there were two problems. One problem was smoke oil leaning on the windshield, and the second problem was the engine missing/sputtering and occasionally ceasing to operate in flight. He said he overheard the discussion between the pilot and the maintenance manager, and it pertained to the operation of the fuel system. During examination of the accident airplane debris was found in the carburetor bowl and in the carburetor float chamber. An electric fuel pump was found to contain a large quantity of debris in the fuel pump chamber.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 9,650 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 9,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 4, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,516 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 11, 2004; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWO Pembroke Pines FL at 5:16 pm
- Destination: HWO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09R, 3,210 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; scat at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 5:25 pm from HWO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N2706D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.